Collapsible core.



Patented Nov. 20, |900.

G. H. RICKE.

CLLAPSBLE GORE.

(Application led Jan. 26, 1900.)

SLN/6 mm. Il

No. 662,09l.

(No Model.)

UNTTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. RICK'E, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES S. FURBER, OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY.

CoLLAPslBLE CORE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,091, dated November 20, 1900.

Application filed January 26, 1900. Serial No. 2,829. (No model.)

To all whom/ zit Tf1/ay concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. RICKE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Collapsible Core; and I do declare that the following is a description thereof sufficiently clear, full, and exact to enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, attention being called to the accompanying drawings, with the referencenumerals marked thereon, which form also a part of this specification.

This invention relates to molds for forming plastic material into hollow shapes like spheroids, truncated spheroids, barrel shapes, or any other shape substantially cylindrical, but of a diameter which is not alike at all points of the length of the molded article.

The shell of a barrel-that is, one without heads and of larger diameter between its ends than at these latter-represents the shape I have here principally in View; and the more particular object of my invention is to produce means aiding in the manufacture of such shells, the intention being to provide the shells afterward with heads and to use the completed vessels for packing, shipping, storing, and all other similar purposes for which wooden barrels, kegs, dac., are now used. As a material any one suitable may be used and which has the characteristics of hardening from a plastic state to one which is air and water tight and sufficiently strong and durable to stand the wear which such vessels are subject to. The difficulty in molding such shapes is the ability to remove the core after the article is molded, and the main object of my invention is therefore to provide a core constructed in a certain manner to permit such removal. This object is attained -by the construction which my invention proaccompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 8 is an end view of the core Fig. 4c is a central cross-section of AI divide the same lengthwise into sections arranged and constructed as follows:

The outer part of the core I divide into a number of segmental sections S, the outer convex surface of each of which forms one of the component parts of the outer surface of the core, so that when these sections are all in place the outer surface of the core is also complete and forms the molding-surfacel against which the plastic material 9 is placed, thereby determining the interior shape of the resulting article. The space inside of these segmental core-sections I fill out with a solid core-section ll of equal thickness all through and fitting closely against the inner surfaces of these segmental core sections, so that when in place it holds these latter in their proper relative positions. After lhe shell 9 is molded the inner core-section is separated from the outer ones, thereby removing the interior support which it furnished while in place for the purpose of holding the outer or segmental core-sections outwardly and in their proper positions. For breaking the connection of the segmental sections it becomes necessary to provide at leasty one which on its inside is not wider than on its outside and the edges of which, or at least one of them, is cut on a line otherwise than radial. Figs. 3, 5 and 6 show each such asect-ion, (indicated by 8%) which permits its Withdrawal inwardly `from between the locked line of the other sections. It is now clear that as soon as this particular first section is removed the rcmainder of them collapse, as shown in Fig. 4, and may be withdrawn piece by piece through one of the open ends of the mold. When ready for reuse, these sections are simply set up against the interior core 1l, where they are held in position by locking-rings 12, placed over their ends. The outer convex surface presented by these segmental core- Iioo sections so assembled is of course shaped to suit the interior shape of the article to be molded and may contain any special shapes or formations in the way of projections or depressions which it is intended this latter should have. Thus, for instance,projections 13 may be provided near each end of 4these sections, forming in the molded article a groove 14, constituting the croze which is to receive the edge of the heads. An additional project-ion 15 is shown in Fig. 1, producing a straight shoulder in the molded shell. The depth of this croze may be varied by adjustF ing the extent of the projection 13, and for which purpose this latter may be formed by separate ring-sect ions removably attached, so as to permit their interchange for such, presenting more, less, or no projection. Outlets to permit ventilation ordrainage, accordingly whether heat or moisture, or bot-h, are evolved during the process of molding, may be prof vided for by holes 16 in the core-section and j longitudinal grooves or channels 17, which -kind of material to be molded.

may be either in theonter surface of the inner core-section 11 or in the inner surface of the segmental sections, as shown.

Having described the inner core-section 11 as solid, I do not wish to be understood as meaning that the same should be of solid material in its entirety, but merely have reference to the outside thereof, which should present a compact surface, while otherwise the core may be hollow. The particular manner of use of this core depends on the In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown it as beingr used in connection with paper-pulp which is in sheet form and oi' which successive layers are wound around the core until the desired thickness 'of shell 9 is obtained. The core is rotated forsuch purpose, its inner section '11, serving as a mandrel, being provided with journals 1S, mounted in boxes 19 and supported on a frame 2l. The power for such rotation may be applied by machinery or by hand applied through the medium ofacrank 22. The various layers of the pulp as they successively arriveupon the core are continually compacted by the action of a pressureroller 23, shaped on its face to conform to the shape which the outside of the shell is to receive and held down `by springs 24. The ends of the shell are determined by annular fianges 25, on the core between'which the ends of the forming-face of pressure-roller 23 fit. When using my core in this position, it becomes necessary to confine the locking rings 12 in their position on the inner core 11 during the molding process. For such purpose one of these ringsthe one on the left end in Fig. l-may be permanently secured in any suitable manner, while the other one is removably held by any means-as, for

. instance, by a pin 26.

21. so as to occupy a position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. 'lo guide the device during this sliding movement, I hold it toits position by a dovetailed connection, as shown at 27, on the under side of the boxes. One part of the frame upon which these boxes rest does not project ont as far as the other, (see dotted line in Fig. 2,) so that when the device has arrived in the position shown lin dotted lines in this figure the box on that side may be removed. Pin 26 and locking-ring 12 immediately behind it are next removed, after which the outer part of the core-that is, the segmental sections vet in position within the molded shell and surrounded by the sameare pulled oif as a whole from the inner section 1l. of the core. 'lhe parts in this condition as they appeal' now are illustrated in Fig. 3. As soon as these segmental sections have moved oft' and cleared the inner section 1l they lose the support of this latter and of necessity collapse, as shown in Fig. 4, after which they may be readilywithdrawn, one after the other, from the open ends of the molded shell.

In Fig. 7 I have shown my core used in connection with a material approaching a state more liquid and incapable of being handled in form 0f sheets. It might be paper or wood pulp or a similar substance. In this case I require an outer mold 28, which is divided in two or more sections to permit separation and spaced with reference to the core, so as to produce the thickness which the wall of the shell is required to have. In this case I prefer to set the mold up endwise, pouring the substance in through the open upper end. When necessary, Apressure may be applied to compress the substance inside of the mold, which maybe done by means of an annular plunger 29, shown in dotted lilies and entering from above. These outer sections of the mold are held together during the molding operation by means of a recessed base 31 below and by a ring 32 above. Base 3l is further recessed to receive the lower locking-ring 12 and the lower end of the inner core-section I1. The

'manipulation for obtaining the molded shell is somewhatdifferent in this case, inasmuch as the inner core-section 11 is pulled out from between the segmental sections instead of pulling these latter o'i first, as described before. An eye 33 is provided, whereby a. hold is taken of section 11 for such purpose.

IOO

IIO

throughout its entire length,independent segmental sections 8 curved outwardly between their ends and fitted loosely without connection against and around this inner core-section ll in a manner that they join each other edgewise and present when so assembled an unbroken continuous, cylindrically-conveX surface in which position they are so supported and held outwardly by inner section l1, one of these segmental sections designated by 8a having its edges so shaped as to permit its independent withdrawal inwardlyinto and removal from the space which is left after the outer segmental sections 8 and the inner section ll have been separated from each other, special formations on the outside of these segmental sections and projections near their ends, completing when these sections are assembled the former certain special shapes which are reproduced in the interior of the article to be molded and the latter an outwardly-projecting annular iiange 25 Which determines the end of the shell and `lockingrings engaging the ends of the segmental sections for the purpose of holding them in position on the inner core being detachably connected, so that upon their removal, the inner core becomes separable from the segmental sections and these latter become also separable from each other.

2. A composite, collapsible core consisting of an inner core-section l1 of equal thickness throughoutits entire length, independent segmental sections 8 curved outwardly between their ends and litted loosely without connection against and around this inner core-section ll in a manner that they join each other edgewise and present when so assembled an unbroken continuons, cylindrically-convex surface in which position they are so supported and held outwardly by inner section l1, one of these segmental sections designated by 8L having its edges so shaped as to permit its independent withdrawal inwardly into and removal from the space which is left after the outer segmental sections 8 and the inner section 1l have been separated from each other, grooves near each end of the outside of these segmental sections, segmental rings wider than the depth of these grooves fitted thereto and detachablysecured therein,formingwhen the segmental sections are assembled, a continuous annular projection on the outside of the core vwhich produces an interior groove in the molded article and locking-rings engaging the ends of the segmental sections for the purpose of holding them in position on the inner core being detachably connected, so that upon their removal, the inner core becomes separable from the segmental sections and these latter become also separable from each other.

3. A composite, collapsible core consisting of an inner core-section ll of equal thickness throughout its entire length having journals projecting from each of its ends, independent segmental sections 8 curved outwardly between their ends and fitted loosely without connection against and around this iunercoresection ll in a manner that they join each other edgewise and present when so assembled an unbroken continuous, cylindrically-con- Vex surface in which position they are so supported and held outwardly by inner section l1, one of these segmental sections designated by 8*L having its edges so shaped as to permit itsindependent withdrawal inwardly into and removal from the space which. is left after the outer segmental sections 8 and the inner section ll have been separated from each other, and locking-rings engaging the ends of the segmental sections for the purpose of holding them in position on the inner core, being detachably connected, so that upon their removal, the inner core becomes separable from the segmental sections and these latter become also separable from each other.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE H. RICKE. Witnesses:

CHAs. S. FURBER,

SPENGEL. 

